Michigan survives a wild finish, Oregon gets tested by Boise State, Iowa’s offense shows signs of life, and Ohio State vs. Texas gives us a closer look at Julian Sayin and Arch Manning.

Welcome back to Y-Option - where Todd Blackledge and I break down the biggest Week 2 college football storylines, including what happened at the Big House, whether Oregon fans should be concerned, how real Iowa’s offensive changes are, and what to watch in the Ohio State vs. Texas matchup.

Today’s podcast is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat. Hope you enjoy!

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

College Football is back and welcome to Y-Option’s week 1 show!

I was in the booth for USC’s opener against San Jose State. Yes, it was hot. So was Jayden Maiava as he played with elite command. The highly touted freshmen for the Trojans also met the moment. And one small detail stood out to me, worth flagging if you’re a special teams fan early in today’s show.

I also dove into Oregon’s game vs Boise State. I’m doubling down: the Ducks are one of the top two teams in the country as we approach week 1.

Speaking of top two, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele and Nico Iamaleava are two of the best quarterbacks in the nation, and both play on the West Coast this Saturday night. That’s what makes Cal vs. UCLA a must-watch: two elite QBs and the debut for two new head coaches.

After calling Eastern Illinois at Minnesota Thursday night, I’m flying to Seattle to meet Paul Burmeister. We also bring you a preview of the Apple Cup live from the UW team room.

As always, each episode is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

Grateful for your support on many levels, enjoy week 1!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel.

How Great Is Ball!?

We are hours from kick-off and college football will be officially underway. And thus, we will all either be right or absolutely wrong about our picks. And that’s the fun part, picking the sleepers and contenders. Todd Blackledge and I dive into those teams in advance of game 1 in today’s Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

We tap into the reasons why Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Ohio State, Minnesota, UCLA, Washington, Illinois, and USC could all challenge the way people are talking about them this season. We will explain what stood out in practice, which quarterbacks are ready to take a leap, why defensive depth matters, and how the Big Ten race could change once these teams get tested on the field.

Almost game time, set those DVRs!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

🔔 Subscribe for more college football conversations on our YouTube Channel as well.

Indiana football has real College Football Playoff expectations. So what can stop IU from running it back?

That’s today’s focus on Y-Option - fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat. Todd Blackledge and I break down what could actually stop Curt Cignetti’s Hoosiers after seeing them up close at fall camp.

We explain why Indiana is unlikely to beat itself, how Josh Hoover’s turnover history changes in this offense, why the wide receiver room needs another playmaker next to Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh, and how Bob Bostad’s offensive line could become one of the Big Ten’s best again.

We also discuss the depth on the defensive line, the challenge of replacing a true lockdown corner, and why matchups with Ohio State, USC, Oregon, and the rest of the Big Ten will reveal how far Indiana can go.

Thanks for watching, wherever you may be!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

🔔 Subscribe for more college football conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@YOption

Penn State football has a new feel under Matt Campbell.

Todd Blackledge and I were in Happy Valley and had to break down what we saw from Rocco Becht, the Nittany Lions’ roster, and why this team can compete right away.

Welcome to today’s episode of Y-Option - fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

I’ve always felt that the best coaches have a conviction in their style, vision, theme and philosophy. Coach Campbell has that in spades, which is a core reason why we think PSU will have long term success.

We share that Penn State has the talent to win in year one, how Rocco Becht’s experience and toughness shape the offense, why the tight end room and offensive line matter, and what Tony Rojas and the defense need to become as the season goes on. We also double down on Matt Campbell’s culture, the transfer-heavy rebuild, and why the schedule gives Penn State a real path to a strong first season.

Thanks for listening!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

🔔 Subscribe for more college football conversations: https://www.youtube.com/@YOption

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Michigan football enters a defining first five weeks and in today’s episode Todd Blackledge and I break down what we saw from Bryce Underwood, the Wolverines’ run game, and a more aggressive Michigan defense at Fall Camp.

We explain why Michigan needs to start fast under Kyle Whittingham, how Bryce can take the next step as a runner and passer, why red zone decision making matters, and what Jay Hill’s defense could look like against a tough early schedule.

Today’s conversation is fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Welcome back or welcome to Y-Option!

Am fired up to kick off Season 3 of Y-Option and update you on what will come this fall!

For starters, really proud to call Todd Blackledge a friend and colleague…now we get to be co-hosts of Y-Option. We will be bringing you LIVE shows each Monday this fall and content all week, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

We kicked it off today with our recap from our respective Training Camp Tours. We break down early season expectations and key storylines across the Big Ten and beyond, including Michigan’s first 5 games, reasons for optimism at Michigan State, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa, Penn State’s conviction in their approach, and why teams like Indiana and Ohio State could be even better than people think.

Also, we share stories from the road at Washington, USC, UCLA, Notre Dame and more.

Be sure to subscribe to our SubStack channel here, as well as our YouTube channel.

Thanks for the constant support, so proud of the community we have curated over the years as we enter this season.

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Everyone thinks their college roommate is awesome. I got undeniable proof one of mine is when he put on a gold jacket last week.

I wasn’t surprised Larry Fitzgerald made the NFL Hall of Fame, as I knew he was talented the day I met him. What surprised me was everything else about the week in Canton. Which brings us to today’s Y-Option podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

Four things stood out in profound ways — profound enough that I had to make a podcast episode about it.

To give you the highlights, those four are:

How talented Cris Collinsworth and Mike Tirico are. I was able to see the best broadcast booth and production group our sport has ever seen, up close. Spoiler, they are even better people than the talent they have.

How old I’m getting. Seeing so many faces from the past 25 years had me smiling ear to ear, until I realized how fast time has gone.

How many Pitt teammates showed up. Twenty-five years later, and the bond we built at 18 years old was poignant and powerful.

Don’t ever pass up a Hall of Fame after party! I lost my voice by 9 p.m. and got called on stage to sing with Marcus Fitzgerald and Bruce Arians — I never laughed harder.

Congrats to the new class, and especially to my guy Larry Fitzgerald. What a journey. Hope you enjoy today’s episode and looking forward to recapping this two week training camp tour once back home.

Until then, I’m off to Iowa, Indiana, and Penn State to finish it off!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our growing YouTube Channel.

I grew up watching Penn State football. The 90s with names like Ki-Jana, McDuffie, Collins, LaVar and more. They inspired all of us in PA and many across the nation. For Penn State in 2026, they hope new quarterback Rocco Becht does the same thing.

And after sitting down with him in today’s Y-Option podcast, fueled by 76 keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat, I think he's going to do exactly that in Matt Campbell’s first year.

Rocco and I dove into falling in love with football in high school, the transition from Iowa State to Penn State, and how he’s learned to lead from the inside out. Growing up with an NFL Dad he has had to learn how to handle expectations and navigate praise and blame. That will serve him well this fall as gameday is right around the corner.

I’m back on the road, heading to Pullman, Seattle, Ames, Iowa City, Bloomington and finishing up in Rocco’s new town, State College. When back, Todd Blackledge and I will recap our respective camp tours right here at Y-Option. Wheels up!

Much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Nico Iamaleava is the most misunderstood QB in the nation.

I’ve known of Nico since he was 16, and I’ve always felt like people were quicker to react to the headlines than understand the person. And since we launched Y-Option three years ago the vision was to share insightful and thoughtful stories in college football.

That’s today’s podcast, fueled by our founding sponsor 76, keeping you on the GO GO GO so you never miss a beat.

This conversation will give you a different look at who he is. The way he talks about his parents. The way he processes praise and blame. The way his mom’s cancer battle changed his perspective. The way he gives back to today’s youth via his Wilson football camps.

There is a lot more to Nico than the noise around him. And if you’re a fan who has resented the new-age in college football, this episode may refresh your passion for the game.

As Nico steps into the 2026 season and the deepest group of quarterbacks in the history of the Big Ten conference, we will see the starter at UCLA as a man who is grounded, grateful and ready to be where his feet are.

I spend my life talking to quarterbacks and today’s podcast was one of the most enjoyable podcasts of this decade-long endeavor. We went back and forth on the craft, how he trains his mind, and the impact of new UCLA head coach Bob Chesney.

I walked in excited about our conversation and left the Bruins facility inspired by the face of the program on so many levels. I hope by the time you complete this episode, you feel the same way.

It’s been a hectic week as I’ve gone from USC to Michigan to the Hall of Fame game to Michigan State to the Hall of Fame induction to Minnesota to home. And I’m heading back on the road tomorrow to prepare for the Apple Cup on NBC, Cy-Hawk, Indiana, and Penn State. Full recaps with Todd Blackledge coming soon and a detailed essay about what it was like watching Larry Fitzgerald get inducted into the Hall as number 385.

Until then, much love and stay steady,

Yogi

Y-Option: College Football with Yogi Roth is a reader-supported publication. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel.